Ride Home

Grabbing her lunch pail, Hope headed for the door, certain everything was as ready for the next day’s lessons as could be expected. Nicholas met her on the porch. “Dr. Howard! It’s so nice to see you. What brings you away from your patients in the middle of the day?”
Nicholas shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and gave a slight shrug. “I wasn’t busy, so I decided to come and offer you a ride home. I hope your first day went well.”
“What a lovely gesture.” Normally, Hope enjoyed her strolls home. It gave her time to reflect, much like the walk to school in the morning. But today, she was exhausted from a long day, and her head was beginning to ache slightly. “I would gladly accompany you, sir.”
A grin lit up his face as he offered his arm, but then Hope wondered if this would count as appearing in public unchaperoned by a single male. “I can manage,” she said, still smiling, though she hoped she wouldn’t offend him. Nicholas nodded but followed her around to the far side of the carriage and watched carefully as she boosted herself up. While she seriously doubted anyone would question her riding along with the son of the couple whose home she was staying in, she didn’t necessarily want anyone to misread what they might observe either. And, if Mrs. Howard was concerned about her own sons, would she have allowed Brady to take her to the bank or pick her up at the station? She didn’t bother to remind herself that Brady was betrothed, and as far as she knew Nicholas was not.
Which begged the question. Once he was settled in his seat and had the horses turned around, she thought she might ask him, but the question caught in her throat. Easing into it would be better. “How was your day?” she asked.
“I thought I should ask you the same. Mine was fair. A sprained wrist and a few colds is about all. I did some house calls, saw some of the older folks around town. That’s about all. How was yours? Do you have a good class?”
Hope’s immediate response was a resounding yes, and then she remembered Steven. She’d meant to find out where his granny lived but only had a general idea. There was a good chance Nicholas would know, but she decided she’d give Steven another opportunity to come back to school in the morning before she went too far out of her way to track him down.
“It was wonderful,” she finally said. “More students than I expected, and no supplies. But the children all listened and followed directions well. I hope that part stays. There are some that know very little and some that know a bit more. It will be challenging, but I hope to have them on their way to reading by the end of the year. And then there was one in particular who stood out. Now, that little girl has a wonderful chance of becoming a star pupil and perhaps even a teacher, or a doctor, or a lawyer, whatever she would like to be one day.”
Nicholas’s eyebrows perked up, and she could tell he appreciated the fact that Hope had a true scholar since he was so fond of learning himself. “Now, that sounds promising. Which child is it? I’m sure I know her.”
“It’s actually the little Pembroke girl, Ginny.” Hope used a cautious tone and watched his face for a reaction. She wasn’t surprised to see he was a little stunned. “She’s remarkably bright. I only hope the other children don’t tease her and her little brother George, who also shows great promise.”
“I see,” Doc said quietly, and then he seemed to reason over his next statement carefully. “I don’t think the other children have had many opportunities to get to know them. They don’t come in for church for one. Nor do they seem to have many friends. I could imagine there are lots of reasons for that. They live far out of town. They haven’t lived here that long....”
“And everyone thinks their uncle is a murderer?” Hope filled in the rest of the sentence before Doc had to. It came out more sarcastic than she had intended, as if she didn’t believe it herself, and maybe she didn’t. Maybe she was of the camp that people should have to prove themselves to be bad before she would cease to give them the benefit of the doubt.
“Well, yes. There’s that. I take it Brady has mentioned it to you, then?”
“How did you know it was Brady?”
Nicholas smirked. “Let’s just say the first time Anna, his fiancée, first laid eyes on Judah Lawless, her eyeballs nearly came unattached. I was just thankful I wouldn’t have to do surgery. Brady, on the other hand, was infuriated.”
Hope covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. She hadn’t met Anna yet because she’d not been feeling well the day before and missed church. It was just as well; Hope had met so many other people she couldn’t possibly remember them all. “I can see why that might be upsetting to Brady.”
“Yes, but one could hardly blame poor Anna.” Hope raised an eyebrow, wondering what Nicholas was implying, and he shook his head. “That is... all of the ladies acted similarly. At first. Then, Paul Pembroke got drunk one night in the saloon, and well, they don’t look at him like that no more.”
Hope nodded. It was a similar story to the one Brady had told her, though he’d left out the part about his girl gawking at Mr. Lawless. “And do you think it’s true? That is... could someone truly get away with killing two wives and never do any sort of time in jail?”
“Honestly, Miss Hope, I haven’t the foggiest. I guess it’s possible, but my take on the whole thing is, why not stay away, just in case? The children is another story. They seem like they have a chance to be something real special from what you’ve said. But if you don’t have to interact with Judah Lawless, why would you? He didn’t come by today did he?”
Hope felt her cheeks flare up again, and Nicholas read the answer before she could speak. “I mostly spoke to his sister, Caroline. She seems nice enough.”
“Caroline is always polite whenever I interact with her,” Nicholas agreed. “Course, I don’t see her much... anymore.”
“It seems a shame. They got along just fine until Paul opened his mouth. I wonder how different it might be for those poor children if he hadn’t.”
“Now, that I certainly can’t say,” Nicholas replied, turning the corner toward his folks’ home. “But so long as you aren’t ever alone in his presence, I should think you’ll fair just fine. Besides, those eyes is deceivin’, Miss Tucker. I’ve seen him work ‘em, even on my own Lluvia. Don’t trust him.” He looked her right in the eye with that last phrase, and Hope felt her stomach churn. Had Judah been attempting to charm her for the sake of his niece and nephew?
“As for the children,” Nicholas continued, “I think they should fair all right. Most youngin’s in these parts aren’t lookin’ to start a fight. So long as you remind ‘em that they’re at school to learn and not there to socialize, I can’t imagine it’d be too much of a problem.”
Hope wanted to believe that would be the case. She had always been very good at inspiring her students to behave while in class and treat each other with respect. She always took the approach that she wasn’t just teaching them how to read and write but how to be productive citizens as well.
They pulled to a stop in front of the Howards’ home, and Nicholas motioned for her to wait. He jumped down and scurried around to offer his hand, and once again, Hope found herself taken aback. Nicholas certainly was more polite than most. She couldn’t remember Jimmy Brooks ever making such a fuss over her.
She took his hand and marveled at how smooth his skin was. Not a callous at all from what she could feel. So different than the rough hand she’d shaken earlier that day. But she tried not to compare; there was really no point. Nicholas likely hadn’t done much labor, what with his studies and practice. Once Hope’s feet were on the ground, she meant to pull her hand away, but it lingered in his, either of its own accord or because he didn’t release it quite as quickly as he should’ve.
Hope swung her lunch pail back and forth as she made her way up the walk next to Nicholas. He opened the door for her, and she thanked him. “That you home so soon, Miss Hope?” Nita called, stepping through the dining room. “Oh, Nicholas. I wasn’t expecting you, Son.” Her face lit up as she came over to kiss him on the cheek. Then, she turned to Hope. “How was your first day?”
“Busy,” Hope replied, feeling an exhaustion that only the first day of school could bring. “But otherwise, good.”
“How many students showed up?”
“Twenty-seven,” Hope replied. “But Steven left while we were eating outside.”
“That’s more than we expected!” Nita exclaimed. “Steven Hawker is a little troublemaker. I’m sure his granny will send him back tomorrow. You should box his ears.”
Hope had never laid a hand on any of her students and didn’t intend to start. But she would have a discussion with Steven, assuming he did return the next day. Stifling a yawn, she said, “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go rest for a bit and then come down and help with the cooking.”
“You go right ahead and rest, dear. But don’t you worry about helping me. I’d be cookin’ whether you was here or not.” She patted Hope on the shoulder.
Relieved that she could take her time in her room, small and plain as it was, Hope turned to Doc. “Thanks so much for the ride home.”
“You betcha,” he replied, and she thought it sounded slightly awkward but kept her giggle inside.
She made her way up the staircase, trying to decide whether she should take a little nap or write a letter to her folks. She wanted to tell them how the first day had gone, but she wasn’t sure she had the energy for it.
Hope had made it almost to her door when she heard Nita say in a hushed voice that still managed to carry up the stairs, “You do realize it is in her contract that she can’t do no courtin’ don’t you, Son.”
“I know that, Mother,” Nicholas answered. Hope paused, wondering if he might say more. When a few long seconds went by with no more, she decided he must be finished and quietly opened her door, but then she thought she heard him ask, “Any chance you can get that changed?”
The only response she heard from Nita before her footsteps pounded out of the room was, “No.”